Flights from Vietnam and crypto: card fees, payment rules and routes

Is it legal to pay with crypto in Vietnam?

No, not as a means of payment. In October 2017, the State Bank of Vietnam said that bitcoin and similar virtual currencies are not a lawful means of payment. It added that issuing, supplying or using them as a means of payment is prohibited (Vietnam News). The rule rests on the decrees on non-cash payment. A 2024 analysis by Duane Morris puts the fine for using an illegal means of payment at 150 to 200 million VND. The basis is Article 26 of Decree 88/2019/ND-CP.

Holding crypto is a different question. The Law on Digital Technology Industry, passed in June 2025, recognises digital assets, including crypto assets. It came fully into force on January 1, 2026 (Allen & Gledhill, October 9, 2025). We do not give legal advice. We have not verified how the payment ban applies to a resident who pays a foreign seller online.

What is the Vietnamese crypto market pilot?

It is a five-year pilot that moves crypto trading onto licensed platforms. Resolution 05/2025/NQ-CP of September 9, 2025 sets its rules (Allen & Gledhill):

• Service providers need a licence, and investors trade through them.
• Offering, issuance, trading and payment transactions involving crypto assets must be conducted in Vietnamese dong.
• Six months after the first provider is licensed, domestic investors who trade outside a licensed provider face administrative or criminal penalties.

We have not verified whether a first licence had been issued by October 12, 2026. Check the Ministry of Finance announcements for the current status.

What do Vietnamese cards charge on a flight bought abroad?

A foreign currency fee of about 1% to 3%, depending on the card. The Techcombank credit card fee schedule lists:

• 1.1% on Visa Signature;
• 2.59% on Visa VNA Platinum, Spark and Style;
• 2.95% on Classic, VNA Classic, VNA Gold, Everyday, Eco and DreamCard;
• 1.1% on payments in VND to merchants registered outside Vietnam.

The last line matters for flights. An airline website based abroad that bills you in dong can still trigger the fee. Pay in stablecoins only where the law allows it; local tax and exchange rules still apply. Other countries are in the Card Friction Index.

Which routes from Vietnam are in the SatFares list?

Three routes in our list of 100 depart from Vietnam, and all three are on sale. Three more arrive in Vietnam from Seoul: Seoul to Da Nang, Seoul to Ho Chi Minh City and Seoul to Nha Trang. Destination pages: Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Seoul, Bangkok and Singapore.

How does a booking from Vietnam work?

The booking works the same way for every traveller, but the rules of the place where you pay apply to you. The State Bank position covers payments in Vietnam. We have not verified how it applies to a visitor who pays while in the country. If you live in Vietnam or pay from there, read the rules above first.

The steps: top up from $25 in USDT (TRC-20 or ERC-20), USDC (ERC-20 only), BTC, ETH, SOL or LTC. The price shown is the fare found live for all passengers, in US dollars, taxes included, with no fee added; the final total is confirmed before you are charged. Send each coin only to the address shown for its network: funds sent on another network may be lost. After checkout, our team books the ticket with the airline on request.

What does the airline need for a flight from Vietnam?

No ID upload, no selfie at checkout. Airline ID rules still apply. For each traveller: the names exactly as in the passport, the date of birth, the gender and the passport details. We pass them to the airline only. Paying in crypto may be a taxable event in your country, so keep a record of each top-up. See what data airlines require.